Can a team, between innings decide to change pitchers, have him go out and throw warm up pitches from the mound then decide they don't want him to pitch, then go back to the starting pitcher?
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On this site, I quote only NFHS rules. If your area uses NCAA or OBR the answer can differ..
From NFHS rules the answer is yes, they can.
Here is the rule citation:
NFHS rule 3 Section 1 Article 1 (D) NOTE
(Condensed)
A substitute has entered the game when the ball is alive and
d. A pitcher takes his place on the pitcher's plate
So since all warm up pitches are taken during a dead ball, the player can be replaced prior to the umpire making the ball alive at the start of the inning without having to pitch to a batter. Only the starting pitcher must pitch to a minimum of one batter before being removed.
From NFHS rules the answer is yes, they can.
Here is the rule citation:
NFHS rule 3 Section 1 Article 1 (D) NOTE
(Condensed)
A substitute has entered the game when the ball is alive and
d. A pitcher takes his place on the pitcher's plate
So since all warm up pitches are taken during a dead ball, the player can be replaced prior to the umpire making the ball alive at the start of the inning without having to pitch to a batter. Only the starting pitcher must pitch to a minimum of one batter before being removed.
Thanks for clearing that up for me, it was a high school game.